Millionaire Max Griggs had bankrolled the club's rise from non-league football to the second division.

However, the Dr Marten's entrepreneur put it up for sale last October and began cost-cutting measures.

Talbot lifted Rushden from the Nationwide Conference to the Second Division and was England's seventh longest-serving manager until this week.

He also previously had spells in charge of West Brom and Maltese side Hibernians.

An ex-England international, he had a successful playing career under Sir Bobby Robson at Ipswich Town, winning the FA Cup in 1978, before moving to Arsenal where he won the Cup the following year, scoring in their 3-2 victory against Manchester United.

After his career at Highbury wound down, Talbot then moved to Vicarage Road to play for Watford.

SEE next week's Advertiser for a full round-up of Talbot's press conference at Boundary Park.